Sony tried bundling all PS4s with camera, couldn't keep it at $400

Sony Computer Entertainment considered including the PS4's camera with the console, but it wasn't possible at the "magic price" of $400. SCE president Andrew House told Business Spectator that it just wasn't worth it for the majority of consumers.

"Certainly for the earlier part of the lifecycle, the vast majority of the audience that we speak to tells us that their primary wish is for the full controller interface and there's not necessarily a huge emphasis being placed on camera interaction," House said.

Xbox One includes its camera and microphone suite, Kinect, with each unit. But it also costs $100 more than Sony's system. SCE Japan executive Masayasu Ito said it was important to keep the system at said "magic price"--$200 cheaper than PS3 at launch. The company would have incurred too much loss on each sale if the camera were included at that price.

While the PS4 camera is taking a backseat for system's launch, House said he's prepared to adjust messaging as the system matures; camera-bearing bundles may become the standard after PS4 is well established with gamers.